MFD Random Five #2

In which I click the shuffle icon on the increasingly frustrating iTunes app and listen to the first five songs that pop up from the years 1976-85.

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1. "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" by Van Halen (1982, Warner Bros.)
   Out of the norm for VH, this cover of a 1924 tune features Eddie and Alex's dad, Jan on clarinet.  Enjoyable for what it is, but I always expect them to kick into gear like they did with their "Ice Cream Man" cover back in '78.


2. "Show You the Way to Go" by The Jacksons (1977, Philadelphia International)
   Smooth disco that we've come to expect from Phil. Intl. and Gamble & Huff, who wrote and produced this single.  Michael brings a great lead vocal, but for me, the strings and upbeat hi-hat groove steal the show.


3. "Take Me Back to Then" by Bobby Caldwell (1978, Clouds)
   A track from his debut album, this song finds Caldwell sounding more than a bit like Boz Scaggs.  Great West Coast/AOR feel throughout and Caldwell brings the strong vocal performance we've come to expect.  If this is album filler, then it's the Cadillac of album filler.


4. "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" by The Commodores (1981, Motown)
   If this doesn't get you up and moving, change the batteries in your pacemaker.  Lionel Richie didn't write it, but he sure sings the crap out of the thing.  The strings and EWF-ish horns over that downward bass line?  Please.  Soon after this release, Richie left for his extremely successful solo career.


5. "Jerusalem" by Vangelis (1981, Polydor)
   An odd way to end this five.  This deep cut from the end of side one of the Chariots of Fire album is the Ambrosian Singers singing the hymn "Jerusalem."  I wouldn't normally listen to this unless I was listening to the whole album.  To be honest, I would have normally hit the skip button when this came on.  Not written by Vangelis (music written by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916, I'm assuming it's in the public domain).  Not performed Vangelis.  Money pocketed by Vangelis.  Well-played, Vangelis.